Rays TV analyst search nearing end

As the Rays reach the final stages of hiring a new TV analyst, we know today one person who it won't be - ex-Ray Eduardo Perez.

Perez was in talks with the team to replace Joe Magrane, but decided instead to re-up with ESPN and signed a new multi-year deal there.

The Rays are talking to a couple of other candidates, and from what it sounds like the job of working with play-by-play man Dewayne Staats will be split between the soon-to-be hired analyst and Brian Anderson, the former pitcher who filled in last season.

An announcement could come sometime next week.

Perez has been managing in Puerto Rico this winter, leading his Ponce team to the championship and earning manager of the year honors, and will be a bench coach for the World Baseball Classic team.

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The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2015 season with Evan Longoria, Chris Archer, Alex Cobb and plenty of new faces, including manager Kevin Cash. Can they upend the Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.